A. Jarrell Hayes

The Poets Are Dead? No, they aren't. Sure, some poets are dead, but there are still plenty living poets out there (ahem, I'm one). However, for many people in the world, poetry only exists as words written by dead guys they were forced to read and interpret in high school and college. (I could get into my thoughts on the subject, but I suggest reading Billy Collins's poem "Introduction to Poetry.")

But poetry goes beyond that. If we take time to observe, we'll notice poetry all around us. Song lyrics are poetry. Rap is poetry. Breathing is poetry. You see the sun out in the sky? The sun is literally shining poetry down on us.

Similarly, many people pine for dead leaders, wishing they were back to guide this "wayward" generation. "Where are the new Churchills?" "We need MLK back!" No we don't. Their time is done. We shouldn't forget about the work they've done, but we also have to look at the people alive now and what they are doing. We can all be leaders--even if we simply lead ourselves.

I've made a habit of donating a percentage of book sales to a non-profit organization. The organization for this project is Black Positive Image, Inc. From now until November 30, 2011 I will donate a quarter from sales of The Poets Are Dead? to Black Positive Image, Inc. I admire the work this non-profit organization does in promoting positive thinking and behaviors, cultivating leaders through a variety of outlets, including literature. Black Positive Image, Inc. has published a collection of memoirs and poetry You Don't Know My Story, Vol. 1 (one word: inspiring) and has a Home Library Campaign to get books in people's houses.  To find out more about Black Positive Image, Inc., the work they do and how you can get involved, visit their website at http://www.blackpositiveimage.com.

The Poets Are Dead? is a 40-poem e-book for only 99 cents. For less than a cup of coffee you can have my largest poem collection to date and help out an awesome non-profit organization in the process. It will be available on Kindle, Nook, and Smashwords tomorrow (Halloween). To order, visit the book's page in my bookstore.

Give a poet a pen,

A. Jarrell Hayes